Opinion

Train chugs along

February 06, 2007 Edition 1

Editorial

The past few days saw two major Gautrain milestones: the signing of financial closure, and the implosion of four inner city buildings to make way for a 700-car parkade at Park Station. Already we have seen major roadworks in Rosebank and construction at the Marlboro Station is at an advanced stage.

While a large number of foreigners are here to lend their skills - which will be passed onto our local staff - even more positive is the announcement last week that Strategic Partnership Group (SPG), the black empowerment arm of the Bombela Consortium, which has a 25% stake in Gautrain, successfully and independently concluded its own funding arrangements with the Industrial Development Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.

Project leader Jack van der Merwe is confident that the project is running on schedule. The long-awaited tunnel-boring machine arrives in September to start digging under the Parktown Ridge to link Park Station to Rosebank.

The Gautrain has come a long way since the first pre-feasibility study was conducted in 1999. It has been a long and tortuous route, with controversy, legal challenges, political scandals, delays and a lot of criticism, but there is no doubt that it is here to stay and that it will change Joburgers' lives for years to come - both during construction and after.

• News
• Opinion
• Editorial
• OpEd
• Columnists
• Letters
• Lifestyle
• Entertainment
• Sport